Africa – 20 October 2015

U.S. Commitments to Women, Peace, and Security
Fifteen years since United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 was adopted in 2000, the United States remains a strong advocate for women’s equal and full participation in the prevention and resolution of conflicts, peace building, and peacekeeping. The U.S. National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security (NAP) remains the United States’ signature strategy for implementing ongoing commitments to the women, peace, and security (WPS) agenda. During yesterday’s UN Security Council Open Debate on WPS, the United States reaffirmed its continued support of women as equal partners in all aspects of peace and security and, in doing so, made a series of monetary commitments totaling $31.3 million:
U.S State Department

India-Africa Summit to help make strides in existing strong relations: France K Morule
In an interview with ET’s Dipanjan Roy Chaudhury, South African High Commissioner to India, France K Morule shares his views on the India-Africa Summit, and how it can bring stronger ties between the two nations. Excerpts:
Economic Times.indiatimes.com

AU, EU sign €165m agreement to support AMISOM
The Commission of the African Union (AU) and the European Union (EU) today signed an Agreement under which the EU commits to provide financial support amounting €165 million to the AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), the AU said in a statement on Tuesday.The Commissioner for Peace and Security, Ambassador Smail Chergui, signed on behalf of the AU.
This funding is being provided under the Africa Peace Facility (APF) established by the EU at the request of the AU, and covers a period of seven months from 1 June to 31 December 2015.
StarAfrica.com

Chinese government pledges billions to industrialise Africa
The Chinese government reiterated its commitment to support industrialisation in South Africa and the rest of the African continent by pledging $50-billion (R668- billion) towards industrialisation projects.
According to a press release, the pledge was announced during a courtesy visit by China’s commerce vice-minister, Zhang Xiangchen, to Lionel October, the director-general in the Department of Trade and Industry, in Pretoria this week.
The courtesy visit also focused on the upcoming Forum on China-Africa Co- operation (Focac), which will be hosted in Johannesburg on 4 and 5 December.
SouthAfrica.info